To the Edge of a Pearly World

To the Edge of a Pearly World

Where waves steal onto the boat
in black clouded slivers of wet
a morning sea yearns for the blue
unclouded skies, still hopeful
he reaches for the uneaten fruit
but, distracted by the dark
curve of a breast, finds warm grays
and black, her smoothly soft thigh.

They could burn again, a sip
spread in languid liquid, kiss
as fingertips mold to a face
a memory of what was once
a fine dust floating in the light
the remaining grit smeared
on her cheek, her eyes dreaming:
charcoal on an empty page.